Foreign nationals can buy property in Spain without restrictions on ownership. The process is well-established, but it has specific stages, costs and legal obligations that differ from purchasing resale property — and differ again depending on whether the home is off-plan or already built. Understanding those differences before you sign anything is what this guide is for.
What buying costs to budget beyond the asking price
New build homes in Spain are subject to IVA (VAT) at 10% of the purchase price, rather than the Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales (ITP) that applies to resale property. On top of IVA, buyers pay stamp duty (Actos Jurídicos Documentados, AJD) at rates that vary by region — currently 1.5% in the Comunitat Valenciana and 1.2% in Murcia, for example. Notary fees, Land Registry inscription and legal representation together typically add a further 1–2%. In total, plan for 12–14% above the agreed price, though you should verify current regional rates with an independent Spanish solicitor before exchanging contracts.
If you are financing the purchase with a Spanish mortgage, lenders generally require a minimum 20–30% deposit from non-resident buyers, and the mortgage itself carries additional costs.
The buying steps, in order
Before any contract is signed, every foreign buyer must obtain a NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) — the tax identification number issued by the Spanish authorities. Without it, you cannot sign a purchase deed before a notary or open a Spanish bank account. NIE applications can be made at a Spanish consulate in your home country or in person at a Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in Spain.
Once the NIE is in hand, the typical sequence runs as follows:
- Reservation contract and deposit — a reserva agreement takes the property off the market, usually against a payment of €3,000–€10,000.
- Private purchase contract (contrato de arras or contrato privado de compraventa) — sets out full terms, payment schedule and completion date. At this stage, buyers typically pay 10–30% of the price.
- Due diligence — your solicitor checks the developer's licence, the property's registration status, any charges on the land and the bank guarantee (aval bancario) that legally must protect stage payments on off-plan purchases in Spain.
- Escritura de compraventa — the public deed signed before a notary, at which point the balance is paid and ownership transfers.
- Registration — the deed is inscribed in the Registro de la Propiedad, confirming your title.
Off-plan versus key-ready: what changes
Off-plan purchases involve stage payments across a construction period that can run 18–36 months. Spanish law requires the developer to hold stage payments in a protected account or cover them with an individual bank guarantee — insist on seeing this documentation before paying any instalment beyond the reservation fee. Key-ready homes skip the stage-payment structure but may offer less choice over finishes.
Helvet Green — Las Lagunas de Mijas
Helvet Green is a development in Las Lagunas de Mijas, on the Costa del Sol, offering apartments, penthouses and ground-floor units with one to three bedrooms, all with access to a communal swimming pool. Prices run from €248,000 to €1,000,000 depending on unit type and configuration. Las Lagunas de Mijas sits between Fuengirola and Mijas Costa, roughly 30 kilometres west of Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport — a drive of around 30 minutes in normal traffic. The wide price band across property types makes this one of the more flexible entry points on the Costa del Sol for buyers with different budgets.
Residencial Laguna Azul — Los Montesinos
Residencial Laguna Azul is a three-bedroom villa in Los Montesinos, a small inland municipality in the southern part of the Costa Blanca, priced at €485,000. Los Montesinos is close to the Torrevieja lagoons and approximately 25 kilometres from Alicante-Elche Airport. The area attracts buyers looking for a quieter base away from the coastal resort strip, with access to local services and the N-332 connecting to the coast.
Levansur Home Six — Águilas
Levansur Home Six is a four-bedroom villa with a private swimming pool in Águilas, a coastal town on the Costa Cálida in the Region of Murcia, priced at €405,000. Águilas sits at the southern end of Murcia's coastline, roughly 90 kilometres south of Murcia-Corvera Airport. The town has a working fishing port, a railway station and several beaches within the municipal boundary. At €405,000 for four bedrooms with a pool, it represents one of the lower per-bedroom price points among the villa projects listed here.
Chalet Villa Paraiso — Altea
Chalet Villa Paraiso is a four-bedroom villa in Altea, on the northern Costa Blanca, priced at €2,090,000. Altea sits between Benidorm and Calpe, approximately 60 kilometres north of Alicante-Elche Airport. The town is known for its old quarter on the hill above the bay and has a resident international community. At this price level, buyers should budget a further €250,000–€290,000 for taxes, notary, registry and legal costs.
Casa Bellavista — Jávea
Casa Bellavista is a five-bedroom villa in Jávea (Xàbia), priced at €3,100,000. Jávea is a coastal municipality on the Cap de la Nau headland, approximately 90 kilometres north of Alicante-Elche Airport. The town has a port area, an old town and several beaches within its boundaries. At €3,100,000, the additional purchase costs (IVA at 10% plus AJD and professional fees) bring the total outlay to approximately €3,470,000–€3,535,000 — figures worth confirming with a solicitor given the amounts involved.
Practical steps before committing
Hire an independent Spanish solicitor before signing any document — not a lawyer recommended by the developer or the selling agent. Verify that the property holds a licencia de primera ocupación (first occupation licence) or, for off-plan purchases, that the bank guarantee covering your stage payments is in place. Check that the property is correctly registered in the Registro de la Propiedad and free of charges. These checks cost a fraction of what disputes cost.
